UK retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has introduced invisible ultraviolet (UV) tags on its milk bottles, marking a significant step in tracking recycling efforts.
This development, in collaboration with recycling technology company Polytag, is on the labels of the four-pint milk bottles available in the company’s stores throughout the region.
The purpose of these tags is to facilitate the tracking of bottles as they move through the recycling process.
After consumers recycle the bottles, they can be scanned by Polytag’s detection units.
This system will provide M&S with real-time data, allowing for detailed insights into the recycling of its packaging.
The information collected is said to assist M&S in monitoring its sustainability objectives, ensuring the accuracy of recycling claims, and adhering to regulations that require businesses to manage the recycling of their packaging waste.
Furthermore, the introduction of these tags is anticipated to help M&S mitigate costs associated with extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations through improved reporting accuracy.
M&S has also committed £100,000 ($134,396) to support Polytag’s Ecotrace programme, which aims to create a comprehensive network for UV tag readers in the region.
Polytag chief executive Alice Rackley said: “Retailers and brands can no longer afford to lose sight of packaging the moment it leaves their supply chain. With EPR now in effect, we’re entering a new era where real data is not just helpful, it’s essential.
“By tagging products and tracking their journey through the recycling system, we’re creating a clear line of sight from shelf to sorting facility. M&S taking this first-to-shelf step signals not only a commitment to transparency, but a real shift in how the industry approaches responsibility.
“It’s a major milestone for the Ecotrace programme and for the wider UK recycling industry.”
